Fun-go baseball

ABSTRACT

Fungo baseball is a competitive sport derived from a modified form of regular American style baseball. In fungo baseball the position of a pitcher as a defensive player throwing baseballs to a catcher at home plate for opposition batters to try to hit has been eliminated. Instead, batters standing in regular baseball playing field batters&#39; boxes, put baseballs in play by hitting fungoes, preferably using fungo style bats. Fungo hits are baseballs tossed a few feet in the air by batters and hit with their bats when the baseballs are on their way down.  
     Almost all other aspects of play action in fungo baseball are the same as regular baseball: games last nine innings unless overtime innings are required to untie a score; each team fields nine players; games are played in the same playing fields as regular baseball; many of the rules of regular baseball apply to the playing of fungo baseball and the same level of officiating and team management of games is aimed for; approximately the same level of skill and energy are required of fungo baseball players as of regular baseball players, except that fungo baseball playing rules are designed to encourage a more relaxed, enjoyable game that should lead to fewer player injuries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention is competitive sports. The present invention of fungo baseball pertains to a game derived from regular American style baseball (regular baseball). Fungo baseball is modified from regular baseball sufficiently to constitute a competitive sport in its own right.

[0002] There are few prior art patents pertinent to the present invention of fungo baseball that are derived from regular baseball. Patents known to the inventor and deemed to be of some relevance includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,394 to Jackson, et al, (1993) for a “Baseball hittng game”. Jackson's abstract discloses “A playing field that utilizes a conventional baseball diamond includes, beginning at the back of the infield, arcuate segments lined off in the outfield to create scoring zones. The last line or the field's boundary fence is the home run zone. Additionally, a plurality of verticle hoops are placed at selected locations in the playing field with the opening of the hoop facing home plate. A hitter scores points for hitting the ball on the fly into a particular segment of the playing field. The farther the hitter can hit the ball on the fly, the more points the player can score. The hitter receives the most points for hitting the ball over the last boundary line or over the boundary fence—a home run. The player also receives points for hitting the ball through one of the verticle hoops. The ability of the hitter to achieve points for hitting the ball through the verticle hoops creates parity between the placement hitter and the home run hitter.”

[0003] A comparison of Jackson's patented game and the present invention reveals that among the few simularities between Jackson's “Baseball hitting game” and fungo baseball is that both games are derived from regular baseball and both games have to be played on regular baseball playing fields. Jackson's patented game, however, and the present invention of fungo baseball are very different games.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,385 to Harley (1988) is another invention that discloses a modified game of regular baseball. Harley's abstract reads in part “. . . an indoor ball game derived from baseball. A playing arena has an area surronded by wall means such as netting walls. A games track is on the playing area and has a plurality of track bases spaced apart therealong. A game player is positioned on the playing area at a location for receiving a ball pitched thereto and progressively moves in one direction along the games track to successive track bases to obtain a score during game play. There is at least one score zone in the playing arena which, when struck by a ball during game play results in a score allocation according to game rules.” A comparison between Harley's patent and the present invention of fungo baseball reveals that both games are quite different from each other and from other referenced prior art.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,467 to Newcomb, et al, (1982) for a “Short hitting baseball bat” and U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,497 to Cordingley (1976) for a “Playing field and hitting apparatus” are referenced here because both patents are for games derived from regular baseball. The subject matter of each, however, is only remotely related to each other and to other prior art of reference and to the present invention of fungo baseball, therefore the relationship will not be elaborated upon. There are a large number of other prior art patents derived from regular baseball that are not being referenced herein for the reason that they, even more than the patents referenced, bear little or no resemblence to the present invention of fungo baseball and regular American style baseball.

[0006] The main difference between fungo baseball, as disclosed in the present invention, and regular baseball is that the position of a pitcher in fungo baseball as a defensive player throwing baseballs to a catcher at home plate for opposition batters to try to hit has been eliminated. Instead, batters standing in regular baseball playing field batters' boxes, put baseballs in play by hitting fungoes. For purposes of the present invention, fungo hits are baseballs tossed a few feet in the air by batters and hit with their bats when the baseballs are on the way down. The preferred bats to use for fungo hitting are fungo bats; they are longer, lighter, and thinner than regular baseball bats. Regular baseball bats may be used at the option of opposing teams in actual match play, as long as both teams agree to use the regular bats, recognizing that the use of the heavier regulation bats instead of fungo bats will result in more batters hitting fungoes further, with more velocity. In large regular baseball playing fields, hitting fungoes with regular bats may lead to a more exciting game to play and to watch; in smaller regulation playing fields such as are found on college campuses and in thousands of municipal owned parks and recreation areas, too many baseballs may be hit over center field fences with the use of regulation baseball bats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] No drawings illustrative of the present invention are required because fungo baseball, a modified form of regular baseball, uses the same regulation playing fields, playing field equipment, players' gear and equipment, number of players per team, and players' field positions as regular baseball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] One of the objects of the present invention is to create a modified form of regular baseball that is safer for players to play and for spectators to watch, yet requires relatively as much skill and energy from its players as regular baseball does of its players. The present inventor believes that those skilled in the art of regular baseball such as present players and former players, managers, coaches, umpires, media announcers, and club owners, among others, will recognize that fungo baseball when played according to the present invention, can be as physically demanding and as exciting a game for new players to become interested in as regular baseball.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide another outdoor activity in the United States that is modified from regular baseball, that can become popular as a summer sport, especially in smaller cities and towns where there are several regulation baseball playing fields available, some of which may be equipped for night baseball. In towns where at least one playing field is available for the playing of day time or night time baseball, a fungo baseball alternative may find a time slot when athletic people who like baseball but cannot compete in regular baseball games can play fungo baseball.

[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide adequte screening or other transparent barriers to better protect spectators in stands close to foul lines from being hit by foul balls. Inadequate protective screening is prevalent in many otherwise well designed regular baseball playing fields on which fungo baseball may be played. To some observers unskilled in the art of baseball, the deficiency of protective screening might not appear to be a serious hazard. To a spectator who is not paying particular attention to an ongoing game or even to a spectator who sees a foul line drive coming but cannot move out of the way in time, being hit by a baseball travelling at an elevated speed can be painfully injurious, a direct hit in a vital area can be permanently disabling, even fatal.

[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modified baseball game that will eliminate what is perhaps the greatest danger to all players in regular baseball games: the pitched ball and the frequent loss of ball control by pitchers who throw fast pitches that end up as very close misses or actually hitting a batter.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to mitigate as much as possible other hazards that players of regular baseball face, in addition to eliminating the hazards of the pitched ball. These hazards include but are not limited to: the elimination of pitching duties will free pitchers from the injuries caused by tendonitis and other bone, muscle, and joint problems that have plagued pitchers throughout the history of baseball; the elimination of injuries to catchers from foul tips; the injuries suffered by catchers and baserunners because of catchers blocking home plate with their bodies ahead of a throw to home plate to try to prevent baserunners from scoring runs; the elimation of the risk of injuries infielders face from hard slides of baserunners trying to “break up” double plays or slides by baserunners trying to gain an extra base on a base hit.

[0013] The present inventor believes that playing fungo baseball in accordance with the present invention will eliminate most of the potential risks of serious injuries to players and spectators inherent in the playing of regular baseball, thereby enhancing fungo baseball's potential to become a popular summer sport. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of playing fungo baseball, a competitive sport, in which two opposing teams comprising a number of fielded players, preferably nine, play a distinctive style of modified regulart American style baseball (regular baseball) on the same size and structured playing fields on which regular baseball games may be played may be played and umpired by at least one umpireb ut preferably three qualified to umpire regular baseball games. wherein, a) on defense the pitching duties of each team's pitcher is eliminated and all of each team's players become fielders playing the same general fielding positions as in regular baseball. b) on offense, baseballs are put in play by each team's players taking their turns as fungo batters hitting self-generated fungo tosses, preferably using special fungo bats and regulation baseballs, as well as other player equipment used in regular baseball, including each player on a team wearing at least one article of the same distinctive baseball style clothing, but preferably each team member wearing a complete distinctive baseball style uniform. c) during a time at bat a fungo batter is entitled to a number of “fungo balls and strikes”, preferably two balls and three strikes, before being called out by an umpire who keeps track of balls and strikes. d) each team plays a number of half innings on defense and offense, preferably nine. e) on offense, each team is entitled to a number of outs, preferably three, in order to give each team an opportunity to advance baserunners, who have hit safely, to home plate to score runs before turning hitting over to the opposing team. f) the team that has scored the most runs after nine full innings of play is the winning team. g) if a game is tied at the end of nine innings, overtime innings may be played to untie a tie score at the option and mutual agreement of both team managments. h) if overtime play to untie a score is agreed upon, if the visiting team scores additional runs in its first half inning of overtime play, the home team has the last half of the inning to tie the score or score additional runs; if the home team ties but does not score additional runs another full inning shall be played; if, however the home team has scored additional runs the game shall be declared over and the home team shall be declared the winner by an umpire, except that if a home team has more runs at the end of eight and one half innings of play than a visiting team, said home team shall be declared the winning team by an umpire without having to play out its last half inning.
 2. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, a) a match between two teams that play fungo baseball shall be between a home team and a visiting team. b) the team that is playing in its home playing field or home city shall preferably be the home team for that game and shall begin the game in fielding positions as the team on defense. c) the visiting team shall begin the game as the team at bat. d) if neither team is playing in its home field or its home city, the status of each team as a home team or a visiting team may be decided by tossing a coin or by another method mutually agreed upon by opposing team managements.
 3. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, a) all definitions of terms, and all terms used in the present invention and in regular baseball are to be considered common to both forms of baseball. b) if there are conflicts in definitions of terms between fungo and regular baseball, the meanings given in fungo baseball shall govern.
 4. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, when a batter is at bat, a “fungo ball” is called by an umpire when a batter tosses a ball in the air in preparation for hitting a fungo, but decides not to strike at said tossed ball.
 5. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, “fungo strikes” are called by umpires when, a) a batter attempts to strike at a fungo toss and misses. b) a baseball is bunted foul or grounded foul by a batter. c) a batter hits afoul fly ball that is not caught by a fielder. d) during a time at bat a batter is charged with more than two “fungo balls”, the additional “fungo balls” shall be called strikes by an umpire. e) if a batter's bat shatters while hitting a baseball, the ball shall be declared dead and the play shall be recalled, if there are baserunners they shall return to bases vacated, the batter shall be charged with a strike by an umpire, unless it is a third strike, in which case said batter shall not be declared out, but shall be allowed use of a new bat and one additional strike to put a ball in play.
 6. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein a time at bat ends in an out when, a) a batter accumulates three “fungo strikes”. b) a batter hits a fair ground ball or bunt and is thrown out by a fielder before reaching base safely. c) a batter hits an infield fly ball with one or more runners on base. d) a batter hits a fair fly ball that is caught by a fielder. e) a batter hits a fly ball above or into a foul boundary fence or wall. f) a batter is called out by an umpire for a game violation.
 7. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, a ball is hit safely when, a) a batter hits a fly ball in a playing field that has foul poles to mark the ending of a foul line at its intersection with a center field boundary fence or wall and said fly ball hits a foul pole, said ball shall be declared dead and said batter awarded a two base hit; a baserunner already on first base when said two base hit is awarded shall automatically advance to third base; a baserunner on a base other than first base shall advance to home base and score a run. b) a batter reaches a base after a fair hit before a fielder fielding said hit throws to a fielder in contact with said base. c) a batter hits a fair fly ball over a playing field's center field boundary fence or wall and is credited with a two base hit; a baserunner on first base when said play occurs shall automatically advance to third base; a baserunner on a base other than first base shall advance to home base and score a run. d) a batter who hits a fair ball that subsequently skips over a foul line before being touched by a fielder shall be credited with a two base hit; a baserunner on first base when said play occurs shall automatically advance to third base; a baserunner on a base other than first base shall advance to home plate and score a run. e) a fielder misplays a fair hit by a batter and said batter reaches a base before a fielder retrieves said misplayed ball and throws to a fielder in contact with said base; said batter shall be credited with a hit the value of which depends upon the forward base reached safely. f) a batter hits an inside the playing field fair fly ball not caught by a fielder and reaches home plate before a fielder's throw reaches a home plate catcher in contact with home plate, said batter shall be credited with a home run. g) a batter hits a fair fly ball that lands before being touched by a fielder; said batter shall be credited with a base hit of a value depending upon the forward base reached safely, including home base. h) a batter hits a fly ball into foul territory where said ball can be caught or fielded, said foul ball is in play and said batter becomes a baserunner; if said foul ball is not caught by a fielder, the fielder retrieving said foul ball must throw said batter out at a base in order for said batter to be called out; if the fielder retrieving said foul ball fails to throw said batter out at a base, said batter shall be credited with a hit of a value determined by the forward base reached, including home base. i) if a batter hits a fair fly ball that is dropped by a fielder, said ball is in play; said batter shall be credited with a base hit of a value depending upon the base reached safely, including home base; if said batter is thrown out trying to reach a base, said batter shall still be credited with a hit of a value depending upon the base reached before being thrown out; baserunners forward of the base where said batter was thrown out may advance to forward bases including home base but are subject to being thrown out trying to reach said bases. j) a batter may be credited with a base hit by an umpire as a result of a game violation by an opposition player.
 8. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, a) when a team is batting all of a team's fielded players shall take turns as batters in a systematic rotation. b) if a player on the bench is inserted in the lineup as a substitute, said substitute shall take the same place in the batting rotation that was held by the player taken out of the game; if said substitute player is inserted in the game as a substitute for a batter who has not finished a time at bat, said substitute batter shall finish said unfinished time at bat starting with the same balls and strikes count as a batter substituted for.
 9. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, a) a baserunner shall not take a lead or steal an advanced base but shall maintain contact with said base until a following batter puts a ball in play. b) if a batter hits an infield fly ball and one or more team mates are on base, the batter shall be declared out and the baserunners shall remain on bases already occupied until a following batter puts a ball in play, except that if there are already two outs when the said batter is declared out, the inning shall be over for the team at bat. c) if a batter hits an infield fly ball and there are no team mates on base, said fly ball is in play and said batter must run out said fly ball; if an error is made by a fielder handling said fly ball, said batter must reach a base safely in order to be credited with a hit. d) if a batter puts an outfield fly ball in play and there are baserunners who advance toward forward bases in anticipation that said fly ball will not be caught, said baserunners shall return to vacated bases if said fly ball is caught; if a fielder who catches an outfield fly ball returns the ball to a fielder standing at a vacated base before a baserunner who vacated said base early, returns, said baserunner shall be called out by an umpire.
 10. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, a) sliding into bases by baserunners is prohibited; players committing this game violation shall be called out by an umpire. b) baserunners deliberately trying to run or slide into opposition fielders to “break up” double plays as well as other deliberate contacts or interferences with opposition fielders in an attempt to cause them to misplay batted balls is prohibited; baserunners committing these game violations shall be called out and/or ejected from the game depending on the ruling of an umpire as to the seriousness of the violation. c) a baserunner advancing toward home plate in an attempt to touch said base before a throw from a fielder reaches a catcher standing on home plate shall not interfere with said catcher's attempt to catch said baseball; said baserunner is also prohibited from attempting to dislodge said baseball from said catcher's hands after said baseball is caught; a baserunner committing these game violations shall be called out and/or ejected from the game depending upon the judgement of a home plate umpire as to the seriousness of the violation; an umpire shall not penalize a baserunner for interference if said baserunner accidently interferes with said catcher's ability to catch a thrown baseball by, for example, slipping on a wet basepath and falling down in front of home plate and then touching said home plate safely and be credited with a run scored before said catcher can recover said thrown baseball. d) if a fielder, including a catcher, is standing on a base waiting for a throw from another fielder who is attempting to throw to said base before a baserunner advancing toward said base can touch said base for a safe advance, said receiving fielder must retain possession of said thrown ball for enougn time to demonstrate to an umpire that said receiving fielder has control of said thrown ball in order for said advancing baserunner to be called out; if in the judgement of an umpire said receiving fielder drops said throw before retaining control of said ball long enough to have possession, said advancing baserunner shall be declared safe. e) if a baserunner advancing toward a base other than home base is accidently struck by a baseball being thrown to that base by a fielder attempting to throw out said baserunner, the ball shall be declared dead by an umpire and said baserunner shall be credited with a hit and called safe at said base. f) if a baserunner advancing toward home plate is accidently struck by a baseball being thrown to home plate in an attempt to throw out said baserunner, the ball shall be declared dead and said baserunner shall be credited with a run scored.
 11. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, a) when a batter who becomes a baserunner by hitting a fair ball advances toward a base in an attempt to reach that base before a throw from a fielder reaches another fielder standing at said base, said batter is prohibited from interfering with said fielder receiving said throw or attempting to dislodge said baseball from said fielder's hands after said baseball is caught; a baserunner committing these game violations shall be called out and/or ejected from the game by an umpire depending upon the seriousness of the violations. b) an umpire shall not penalize a baserunner for interference if said baserunner accidently interferes with said fielder's ability to catch a thrown baseball by, for example, slipping on a wet basepath and falling down in front of a base before touching said base for a safe call by an umpire before said receiving fielder can recover said thrown baseball.
 12. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, a) a catcher standing at home base waiting for a throw from a fielder in order to make a put out before a baserunner advancing toward home base touches said base is prohibited from blocking home plate or the base path in front of home plate with his body to try to prevent said baserunner from touching home plate before said fielder's throw arrives; a catcher committing these game violations shall be ejected from the game and a run shall be ordered added to the batting team's total runs by the umpire at home plate. b) an umpire shall not penalize a catcher who interferes with the access of a baserunner to said home plate by, for example, accidently falling down in front of said home plate while trying to catch said fielder's thrown baseball, thereby preventing said baserunner from gaining access to said home plate before said catcher retrieves said throw and touches home base before said baserunner can touch said home base safely and score a run.
 13. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, a) a fielder standing at a base waiting for a throw of a fielder who retrieves a batted ball, is prohibited rom blocking access to said base by a baserunner attempting to touch said base before said throw from said retrieving fielder arrives; a fielder committing these game violations shall be ejected from the game and said baserunner shall be called safe. b) an umpire shall not penalize a fielder who inadvertantly interferes with access to a base by a baserunner by, for example, accidently falling accross a base or basepath while trying to catch a throw from said retrieving fielder and touching said base for an out before said baserunner can touch said base for a safe call from an umpire.
 14. A method of playing fungo baseball as defined in claim 1, wherein, a) if a fair batted ball accidently hits a baserunner before being touched by a fielder within the fair boundaries of a playing field, the ball shall be declared dead by an umpire and the batter called out. b) if a fair batted ball accidently hits an umpire, the ball shall be declared dead by said umpire, the batter shall be called back to resume a time at bat with a nil ball and strike count. c) if a batter hits a fair ball that goes foul before being touched by a fielder and after going foul hits a coach, a grounds person, a spectator, or other person authorized to be upon a playing field but outside said playing field's fair boundaries, said ball shall be declared dead by an umpire and said batter shall be called back to resume a time at bat with a nil ball and strike count. 